Strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawThirteen’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawThirteen.’ The new cultivar is primarily characterized by having large-sized, fruit with strong sweetness and weak acidity and having a plant with resistance to powdery mildew and moderate resistance to Strawberry Mottle Virus, wind, drought, high temperatures, high pH, high soil salt levels and water logging.

Genus and species: Fragaria×ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘DrisStrawThirteen’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry cultivar designated ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ and botanically known as Fragaria×ananassa. This new strawberry cultivar was discovered in Ventura, Calif. in October 2005 and originated from a cross between the proprietary female parent ‘2K297’ (unpatented) and the male parent ‘Driscoll Ojai’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,575). The original seedling of the new cultivar was first asexually propagated at a nursery in Shasta County, Calif.

‘DrisStrawThirteen’ was subsequently asexually propagated in Shasta County, Calif. and underwent further testing in Ventura County, Calif. for four years. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations via stolons and tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of the new cultivar at various stages of development as nearly true as it is possible to make in color reproductions. The photographs were taken from 6-month-old plants.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit including fruit at various stages of development.

FIG. 2 shows leaves of the plant with three leaflets.

FIG. 3 shows both the upper side and underside of several of the flowers.

FIG. 4 shows the whole fruit.

FIG. 5 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following description of ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ is based on observations taken in Ventura, Calif. from 2005 to 2009. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ was taken from 6-month-old plants and the botanical descriptions of the comparison varieties, ‘Driscoll Ojai’ and ‘Driscoll El Dorado’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,238), were also taken from 6-month-old plants. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Table 1 shows selected plant characteristics of the new variety compared with plant characteristics of ‘Driscoll Ojai’ and ‘Driscoll El Dorado.’ Plant characteristics include plant habit, terminal leaflet margin profile, insertion of achenes, and fruit production.

TABLE 1 ‘Driscoll El Characteristic ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ ‘Driscoll Ojai’ Dorado’ Plant habit Globose Globose Flat globose Terminal leaflet Revolute to flat Revolute Revolute margin profile and flat Insertion of Level with surface Level with Below achenes surface surface Fruit production, 473.7 435.4 707.8 grams/plant

Table 2 shows plant characteristics of the new variety compared with plant characteristics of the commercial varieties ‘Driscoll Ojai’ and ‘Driscoll El Dorado.’ Plant characteristics include plant height, diameter, number of crowns per plant, habit, the density of individual plants and the vigor.

TABLE 2 ‘Driscoll El Characteristic ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ ‘Driscoll Ojai’ Dorado’ Plant height 20.6 22.9 19.0 (cm) Plant diameter 36.0 35.4 34.7 (cm) Number of 3 3 3 crowns/plant Habit Globose Globose Flat globose Density of individual plant Medium Medium Medium Vigor Very strong Medium Medium

Table 3 shows leaf characteristics of the new cultivar compared with leaf characteristics of ‘Driscoll Ojai’ and ‘Driscoll El Dorado.’ Leaf characteristics include terminal leaflet length and width in centimeters, length to width ratio, number of teeth per terminal leaflet, shape of teeth, color of upper side and underside of leaf, leaf shape in cross section, leaf blistering, leaf glossiness, number of leaflets, terminal leaflet margin, terminal leaflet length to width ratio, overall leaf shape and shape of leaf apex and base.

TABLE 3 ‘Driscoll El Leaf Characteristic ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ ‘Driscoll Ojai’ Dorado’ Terminal leaflet 8.0 7.4 7.6 length (cm) Terminal leaflet 7.4 6.7 6.8 width (cm) Terminal leaflet length/width ratio 1.1 1.1 1.1 No. teeth/terminal 21 22 22 leaflet Shape of teeth Rounded Rounded Rounded Color of upper RHS 137A (Dark RHS 147A RHS 147A surface of leaf green) (Dark (Dark yellow- yellow-green) green) Color of lower RHS 148B RHS 148C RHS 148B surface of leaf (Medium (Light (Medium yellow-green) yellow-green) yellow-green) Leaf shape in Slightly concave Slightly Slightly cross section convex concave Leaf blistering Medium Medium Medium Leaf glossiness Strong Medium Medium No. leaflets 3 only 3 only 3 only Terminal leaflet Between revolute Revolute Both revolute margin and flat and flat Terminal leaflet: As long as broad As long as As long as length/width ratio broad broad Terminal leaflet Orbicular Orbicular Oval shape Terminal leaflet Slightly oblique Slightly Slightly base shape oblique oblique Terminal leaflet Rounded Rounded Rounded apex shape

Table 4 shows information about the petiole, the petiolule, the bract, and the stipule of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Ojai’ and ‘Driscoll El Dorado.’ This includes petiole length in centimeters, petiole diameter in centimeters, petiole pubescence, pose of hairs on the petiole, color of the petiole, color of the petiolule, petiolule length in centimeters, petiolule diameter in centimeters, bract frequency per petiole, stipule length in centimeters, stipule width in centimeters, stipule pubescence and stipule anthocyanin coloration.

TABLE 4 ‘Driscoll El Characteristic ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ ‘Driscoll Ojai’ Dorado’ Petiole length (cm) 12.4 9.7 10.1 Petiole 0.355 0.358 0.332 diameter (cm) Petiole pubescence Medium Medium Medium Petiole pose Outwards Outwards Outwards of hairs Petiole color RHS 145A RHS 145A RHS 146D (Medium (Medium (Medium yellow-green) yellow-green) yellow-green) Petiolule color RHS 145A RHS 145A RHS 146D (Medium (Medium (Medium yellow-green) yellow-green) yellow-green) Petiolule 6.93 6.35 6.19 length (cm) Petiolule 0.165 0.144 0.147 diameter (cm) Bract frequency 1 1 0 Stipule length (cm) 3.2 3.7 3.0 Stipule width (cm) 1.073 1.204 1.074 Stipule pubescence Medium Medium Medium Stipule RHS 150D (Light RHS 142C RHS 149B anthocyanin yellow-green) (Light (Medium coloration green) yellow-green)

Table 5 shows stolon characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Ojai’ and ‘Driscoll El Dorado.’ These characteristics include the number of stolons, average number of daughter plants, the anthocyanin coloration of the stolons, the thickness of the stolons, and the pubescence of the stolons.

TABLE 5 ‘Driscoll El Characteristic ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ ‘Driscoll Ojai’ Dorado’ Stolon Number Medium Many ND* Average number of 50+ 62 129 daughter plants Stolon Anthocyanin RHS 59B (Dark RHS 61C RHS 59C red-purple) (Medium (Dark red-purple) red-purple) Stolon Thickness Thin Medium Thin Stolon Pubescence Sparse Sparse Medium *ND = Not determined

Table 6 shows inflorescence characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Ojai’ and ‘Driscoll El Dorado.’ These characteristics include inflorescence position relative to foliage, time of flowering, relative flower size, flower diameter in centimeters (measured from petal tip to petal tip), petal shape, relative spacing of petals, petal apex, base and margin, petal length in centimeters, petal width in centimeters, petal length to width ratio, number of petals, petal color, calyx diameter in centimeters (measured on back of flower from sepal tip to sepal tip), diameter of calyx relative to corolla, diameter of inner calyx relative to outer, sepal shape, apex and margin, sepal length in centimeters (measured from sepal tip to point of attachment to receptacle), sepal width in centimeters, number of sepals, receptacle color and anther color.

TABLE 6 ‘Driscoll El Characteristic ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ ‘Driscoll Ojai’ Dorado’ Inflorescence Between level with Above Above position relative and above to foliage Time of flowering Medium Medium Medium (50% of plants at first flower) Flower size Medium Medium Medium Flower 2.688 3.289 2.773 diameter (cm) Petal shape Orbicular Orbicular Orbicular Petal spacing Overlapping Overlapping Overlapping Petal apex shape Rounded Rounded Rounded Petal margin Entire Entire Entire Petal base shape Rounded Rounded Rounded Petal length (cm) 1.531 1.571 1.496 Petal width (cm) 1.464 1.621 1.570 Petal length/width As long as broad As long as As long as ratio broad broad Typical and 6 6 7 observed petal number Petal color RHS 155B (White) RHS 155D RHS 155B (White) (White) Calyx diameter (cm) 3.897 4.518 4.271 Calyx diameter Larger Larger Larger relative to corolla Inner calyx diameter Same size Same size Same size relative to outer Sepal shape Oval Oval Oval Sepal apex shape Convex Convex Convex Sepal margin Entire Entire Entire Sepal length (cm) 1.538 1.787 1.654 Sepal width (cm) 0.628 0.802 0.674 Typical and 12 13 15 observed sepal number Receptacle color RHS 154B (Light RHS 1B RHS 1A yellow-green) (Medium (Medium green-yellow) green-yellow) Anther color RHS 17A (Medium RHS 163B RHS 163A yellow-orange) (Medium (Medium greyed- greyed- orange) orange)

Table 7 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Ojai’ and ‘Driscoll El Dorado.’ These characteristics include fruiting truss length in centimeters, fruiting truss diameter, number of berries per truss, fruiting truss attitude, fruiting truss color, fruit length in centimeters, fruit truss width in centimeters, fruit length to width ratio, fruit hollow length and width in centimeters, fruit hollow length to width ratio, fruit weight in grams, relative fruit size, predominant fruit shape, difference in shape between primary and secondary fruits, band without achenes, unevenness of fruit surface, fruit skin color, evenness of fruit color, fruit glossiness, insertion of achenes, achene coloration (sunward and shaded sides of berry) and the number of achenes per berry.

TABLE 7 ‘Driscoll El Characteristic ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ ‘Driscoll Ojai’ Dorado’ Fruiting truss 22.1 20.7 18.7 length (cm) Fruiting truss Medium Medium Medium length-general Fruiting truss 0.339 0.281 0.270 diameter (cm) at base of truss Number of berries 1 1 1 per fruiting truss Fruiting truss Prostrate Prostrate Prostrate attitude Fruiting truss color RHS 144A RHS 144A RHS 144B at base of truss (Medium (Medium (Medium yellow-green) yellow-green) yellow-green) Fruit length (cm) 5.262 4.310 4.904 Fruit width (cm) 5.196 3.888 4.237 Fruit length/width 1.0 1.1 1.2 ratio Fruit hollow length 2.039 1.617 2.141 (cm) Fruit hollow width 0.968 0.903 1.412 (cm) Fruit hollow 2.1 1.8 1.5 length/width ratio Fruit weight (g) 28.7 26.7 26.1 Relative fruit size Large Large Large Predominant fruit Between conical Conical Conical and shape and almost almost cylindrical cylindrical Difference in shape Slight Moderate Slight between primary & secondary fruits Band without Medium Narrow Absent or achenes very narrow Unevenness of fruit Strong Medium Medium surface Fruit skin color RHS 46A RHS 45A RHS 46A (Dark red) (Medium red) (Dark red) Evenness of fruit Even Even Slightly color Uneven Fruit glossiness Medium Medium Medium Insertion of achenes Level with surface Level with Below surface surface Achene coloration- RHS 185A (Dark RHS 178B RHS 185A sunward side of greyed-purple) (Dark (Dark greyed- berry greyed-red) purple) Achene coloration- RHS 153A RHS 152D RHS 153C shaded side of (Medium (Medium (Medium berry yellow-green) yellow-green) yellow-green) Achenes per berry 358.7 234.5 215.3

Table 8 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Ojai’ and ‘Driscoll El Dorado.’ These characteristics include the harvest maturity, insertion of calyx, pose of calyx segments, size of calyx in relation to fruit, adherence of calyx, firmness of flesh, color of the fruit flesh, evenness of the flesh color, distribution of flesh color, hollow center, sweetness of fruit, acidity of fruit, texture of fruit when tasted, type of bearing, grams of fruit per plant.

TABLE 8 ‘Driscoll El Characteristic ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ ‘Driscoll Ojai’ Dorado’ Harvest maturity Late December to Late January to Early January mid-June late May to late May Insertion of calyx Level Level Level Pose of calyx Reflexed Reflexed Reflexed segments Size of calyx in From same size to Between same Between same relation to fruit larger size and larger size and larger Adherence of Strong Strong Strong calyx Firmness of flesh Between soft and Firm Firm medium Color of the flesh RHS N155D RHS 155D RHS 155B (White) (White) and (White) and and RHS 45A RHS N30A RHS 42B (Dark Red) (Dark orange- (Medium red) red) Evenness of flesh Even Even Even color Distribution of Marginal and Only marginal Marginal flesh color central and central Hollow center Between small and Between small Between small medium and medium and medium Sweetness Strong Medium Medium Acidity Weak Medium Medium Texture when Fine Medium Medium tasted Type of bearing Partially Partially Partially everbearing everbearing everbearing Grams of 473.7 435.4 707.8 fruit/plant

Table 9 shows pest, stress and disease characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Ojai’ and ‘Driscoll El Dorado’.

TABLE 9 Pest, Stress or ‘Driscoll El Disease ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ ‘Driscoll Ojai’ Dorado’ Lygus hesperus Moderately resistant Susceptible Susceptible (Lygus bug) Botrytis fruit rot Moderately Moderately Susceptible susceptible susceptible Powdery mildew Resistant Moderately Moderately susceptible resistant Verticillium wilt Moderately Susceptible Moderately susceptible susceptible Strawberry mottle Moderately resistant Moderately Moderately virus resistant resistant Xanthomonas Moderately Moderately Moderately fragariae susceptible susceptible susceptible Drought Moderately resistant ND* ND High temperatures Moderately resistant ND ND Wind Moderately resistant ND ND High pH Moderately resistant ND ND High soil salt levels Moderately resistant ND ND Water logging Moderately resistant ND ND *ND = Not determined

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

When ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ is compared to the proprietary female parent ‘2K297’ (unpatented), ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ has larger fruit with a softer texture than does ‘2K297.’ In addition, ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ produces fruit three weeks earlier, has a more compact plant habit with darker foliage and is more rain tolerant than ‘2K297’.

When ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ is compared to the male parent ‘Driscoll Ojai’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,575), ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ produces fruit four weeks earlier than ‘Driscoll Ojai’. In addition, ‘DrisStrawThirteen’ is more rain tolerant, has a more compact plant habit with darker foliage than ‘Driscoll Ojai’ and hides its fruit underneath the canopy whereas ‘Driscoll Ojai’ has a more upright plant habit and presents its fruit above the canopy. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant as described and shown herein. 